The offence relates to a crash on the A19 southbound near the Thornaby turn off, on August 6 2013, when Kirk was said to be driving a Scania Artic.

Mr Nimmo, of Murton in Seaham, County Durham, was killed when the lorry he was driving was involved in a crash with another HGV and a Ford Focus Zetec.

The crash happened at about 5.25am, just near the slip road from the A1130 Mandale roundabout.

Both northbound and southbound carriageways were closed for several hours due to the smash.

Kirk also did not enter a plea to a charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving to Lada Khazanovych, and knowingly causing a false record to be created in respect of drivers hours, relating to the same incident.

The A19, one of the major routes into Teesside, was shut between Mandale roundabout and the A174 roundabout for Low Lane and Maltby, causing severe delays for motorists.

Mr Nimmo was due to marry his fiance and partner of two years, Janinne Lesley, this August and leaves a daughter, Laylah Hope, who was four at the time.

In a statement released shortly after his death, Mr Nimmo’s family - who packed the public gallery in court - said they were “devastated” by their loss.